Implementation - BioCycling GmbH

The future global economy is likely to consume ever more energy, especially with the rising energy demand of developing countries such as China and India. At the same time, the tremendous risk of cl ...

The future global economy is likely to consume ever more energy, especially with the rising energy demand of developing countries such as China and India. At the same time, the tremendous risk of climate change associated with the use of fossil fuels makes supplying this energy increasingly difficult.

Since 2006, it is forbidden in the European Union to process leftovers from restaurants, hospitals, canteens and food distribution chains to animal feed. BioCycling, an enterprise owned by Veolia Environment, ensures the disposal and recycling of organic waste for the production of biogas, biodiesel and fertilizers. The biogas and biodiesel produced by BioCycling are used for the production of electricity and heating energy. The fertilizers are used in agriculture.

How does it work?

BioCycling offers services for the clean collection and disposal of food waste in restaurants, schools, hospitals, distribution chains and so on. It provides airtight containers that are regularly collected to be brought to the biogas plant in Stellinger Moor in Hamburg, Germany. In the first stage, the organic waste is reduced in small pieces, packaging and other artificial materials are removed and it is heated up to 70 degrees Celsius for one hour to be sanitized. The waste is then ready to be put in a large fermentation container where the production of biogas will take up to four weeks. With a proportion of 65% of methane the produced biogas is very energy-rich. In the attendant block heat and power plant the biogas is burnt for the production of electricity and heating energy. This CO² neutral energy is directly introduced in the Hamburg electricity and distant heating distribution network. The remaining organic waste is used as fertilizer in agriculture. Out of around 20,000 tons food waste per year, the bio plant produces clean electricity and heating energy that are sufficient to cover the needs of 2,500 households.

Reduce emissions from power generation by exploiting available options in natural gas, bioenergy, and wind power; at the same time, increase public sector R&D on new technologies including carbon capt ...

Reduce emissions from power generation by exploiting available options in natural gas, bioenergy, and wind power; at the same time, increase public sector R&D on new technologies including carbon capture and storage (CCS), photovoltaics, and nuclear fusion.